Pregnancy Belly Cast Newborn Photography – From Bump to Baby
Some of my favourite newborn photographs begin with an idea I could never plan myself.
During one newborn session, a mum arrived at my studio with something particularly special – a plaster cast of her pregnant belly, created shortly before her baby was born.
Instead of keeping it only as a pregnancy keepsake, we decided to incorporate it into her baby’s newborn photographs.
The result was a photograph with a wonderful connection: the same shape that had held her baby before birth became part of the baby’s first professional portrait.
What is a pregnancy belly cast?
A pregnancy belly cast is a three-dimensional mould that captures the shape of your bump towards the end of pregnancy. Most simple DIY versions are created using plaster bandages, which are moistened, layered over prepared skin and allowed to set before the shell is carefully removed.
Pregnancy belly casting kits are available, or the cast can be created professionally. Typical instructions involve preparing the skin, applying overlapping strips of plaster bandage and allowing the finished cast plenty of time to dry completely.
For an example of the process, you can see this pregnancy belly casting guide
When should you make your belly cast?
If you would like to try pregnancy belly cast newborn photography, the important part is planning ahead.
The cast needs to be created before your baby arrives, so many parents choose to make it during the later stages of pregnancy when the bump is beautifully defined.
Remember that babies don’t always follow their due dates, so I wouldn’t leave the project until the very last moment.
Once removed, the cast should be allowed to dry thoroughly. Depending on the materials and method used, instructions vary, so always follow the directions supplied with your particular casting kit.
Bringing your belly cast to your newborn session
If you would like me to incorporate your cast into your newborn photographs, please tell me before your session and send me a photograph of it.
Every cast is different in its size, depth, strength and shape. Seeing it beforehand allows me to think about how we might safely incorporate it into the session.
Most importantly, bringing a belly cast doesn’t guarantee a particular pose. As with all my newborn photography, baby’s comfort and safety always come first. I will decide how the cast can be used once I have seen its construction and how your baby settles on the day.
This same principle applies to other sentimental objects parents bring to my studio.
More than a newborn photography prop
What I loved about this photograph was that the belly cast wasn’t simply a prop.
It already had a story.
For months, the baby had grown inside the bump whose exact shape the cast preserved. A short time later, that same baby could be photographed within that shape.
Pregnancy changes incredibly quickly once your baby arrives, and it can be difficult to remember just how your bump looked and felt.
Pregnancy belly cast newborn photography brings those two moments together – the final weeks of waiting and the very beginning of life with your baby.
And that is exactly the kind of photograph that becomes more meaningful with time.
A truly personal newborn photograph
One of the things I love about pregnancy belly cast newborn photography is that no two photographs can ever be exactly the same. The cast was created from your own pregnancy bump and therefore has a shape that belongs specifically to your story and your baby.
We can also coordinate simple wraps, outfits or textures with the cast while keeping the styling subtle. The aim is not to overwhelm the photograph with props, but to keep your baby and the meaning behind the belly cast at the centre of the image.
If you love keeping meaningful pieces from your baby’s earliest days, you may also enjoy my guide to creating a baby memory box.